Child&#39;s building block



May 29, 1951 w, H, H PP 2,554,704

CHILDS BUILDING BLOCK Filed Feb. 20, 1946 i INVENTOR. mil/d am 12 110 p e Patented May 29', 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHILDS BUILDING BLOCK William H. Hoppe, Bremerton, Wash.

Application February 20, 1946, Serial N 0. 648,842

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to toy building blocks. The principal object is to devise an improved set of blocks, each block of a triangular prismatic form, permitting a wide variety of geometric structures to be easily erected through selective employment of various blocks from the set, and which structures are so held together by novel connector means as to give substantial strength to the assembly and permit the latter to be handled at will with no likelihood of becoming disarranged.

With this and other more particular objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and in the adaptation and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in end elevation portraying two of my full-sized blocks fastened in side-byside relation by the use of my novel connector means and showing a fragment of a third block by dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof with parts broken away and shown in section, and representing a fragment of another block to indicate the manner in which the blocks may be fastened in end-to-end relation.

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section taken on the median line of two connected blocks.

Figure 4 is an elevational View to illustrate one of the coupling pins which is employed as a transverse connector, the scale being enlarged from that of Figures 1 to 3, inclusive.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevational view using scale corresponding to that of Figure 4 and portraying one of the coupling pins which serves as a longitudinal connector.

Figure 6 is a transverse section on line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view detailing the manner in which the longitudinal connector passes through terminal eyes of one, two, or three of the transverse connectors, as the case may be, producing a positive lock anchoring the transverse connectors against liability of end movement; and

Figures 8 and 9 are reduced-scale en'd elevational views illustrating, in the former instance, one full-sized, and one half-sized block fastened together and, in the latter instance, two connected half-sized blocks.

The blocks used in the present invention are each produced in the form of a triangular prism, and more especially a right prism, and the bases of the prisms may be of various shapes, those illustrated in the drawing being (1) an equilateral triangle and (2) an isosceles triangle whose equal sides correspond to the sides of the equilateral triangle and whose remaining side is one-half the length of the equal sides. The altitudes of the prismatic bodies are the same for the several blocks. I denote the two illustrated blocks, the one a full-size and the other a halfsize block, by the numerals l0 and ll, respectively.

Each of these prismatic blocks is provided with a through center-bore, as l2, running parallel to and equidistantly spaced from the three lateral edges of the related blocks, and such bores are counterbored, as at I3. Also provided in each block are three transverse bores I 4 emanating from a respective lateral face at points central to the width and length of the latter, and the axes of these transverse bores are placed perpendicular to the related face and hence intersect one another on the axial line of the throughbore I2. The transverse bores of the respective blocks have a diameter somewhat larger than the diameter of the longitudinal bore.

For connecting the blocks in end-to-end relation, the invention employs a coupling pin arranged and adapted to be applied to the longitudinal bore l2, and for connecting the blocks in side-by-side relation, there is provided a second coupling pin which is arranged and adapted to be applied to the transverse bores 14. Giving separate names to these coupling pins in accordance with their usage and as a means of distinguishing the one from the other, I will refer to the first-mentioned coupling pin as the longitudinal connector and the last-mentioned coupling pin as the transverse connector.

First describing the longitudinal connector, the same is comprised of a bolt I5 closely fitting the through-bore and having a head It upon one end and a reduced threaded portion l'l upon the other end. Said bolt has a length somewhat greater than the length of the block. The head part of the bolt fits the counter-bore of the block, presents wing elements I 8 projecting from the exposed face at diametrically opposite sides, and has an end bore which is threaded in correspondence with the threading of the portion ll, thus allowing the threaded end of one bolt to be attached to the headed end of another bolt and in consequence enabling a plurality of blocks to be secured one to another in end-to-end relation. The function of the wings is to accommodate a tool suitable for the purpose, and allow the bolts to be readily turned for threading the end portion I! of one bolt into the mating socket of another bolt. Where it is not desired to apply another block against the end face from which the bolt end I! projects, a nut l9 (see Fig. 2) is threaded upon this projecting end.

Now in respect of the transverse connectors, these are formed of sheet metal and consist in a strip of a width corresponding to the diameter of the transverse bores and having terminal openings 2| arranged, when the connectors are inserted to the transverse bores, to exactly coincide with the longitudinal bores and admit of the passage of the longitudinal connectors therethrough. At the approximate mid-length of the transverse connectors, the blank from which each sheet metal strip is produced presents a tongue extending laterally from each side, and these tongues are curled back in semi-circular rolls 22 upon the central or shank part of the strip, one in overlying relation to one face and the other in overlying relation to the other face, and such that the two rolls collectively describe an annular body (see Fig. 6) closely fitting the transverse bores of the blocks.

The transverse connectors are of different lengths, the number of length depending upon the shapes of the blocks. This will be understood by pointing out that a set of blocks confined to the two shapes illustrated would require three lengths of transverse connectors, shown, respectively, in Figs. 3, 8 and 9, the first said connector being arranged to couple two full-sized blocks (Fig. 3) in side-by-side relation, a second said connector being arranged to couple one fullsize and one half-size block (Fig. 8), and a third said connector being arranged to couple two halfsize blocks (Fig. 9). The length of the transverse connector, in each instance, is such as finds the axial lines of the two longitudinal bores of the two juxtaposed blocks coinciding with the centers of the two terminal openings 2!.

The manner of using the building blocks will be largely self-evident from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the illustration of my now preferred embodiment. More expressly reciting this operation, however, and assuming that it is desired to attach two fullsized blocks together, the procedure is to select the proper transverse connector and insert onehalf of such connector into the side bore of one block and the other one-half into the registering side bore of the other block. As a locking instrumentality, to hold the blocks together, the longitudinal connectors are now inserted, being passed through the terminal openings 2| to anchor the transverse connectors against withdrawal. Should it be desired to secure two blocks in end-to-end relation, longitudinal connectors are inserted in each and the threaded portion ll of one said connector is engaged in the mating end bore of the other. Where a child has assembled several blocks together and later wishes to add still another or other block or blocks, the longitudinal connector is withdrawn from the end block of the previously built assembly to permit a new transverse connector to be applied through an exposed side bore. The longitudinal connector is then reinserted to again perform its locking function.

It is thought that the nature of the inve t n and the manner of its usage, will be clear from the foregoing. Departures from the embodiment which I have elected to illustrate and other than that expressly referred to will suggest themselves, and no limitations are to be implied from the foregoing description having particular reference thereto, it being my intention that all forms of construction and variations in detail coming within the scope of the hereto annexed claims are to be considered as comprehended by the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A toy building block set, comprising a plurality of blocks formed as right prisms each having a plurality of intersecting transverse bores of like cross-sectional area placed perpendicular to respective lateral faces of the prism and each having a longitudinal bore of smaller cross-sectional area than that of the transverse bores and traversing the point of intersection of said transverse bores, a plurality of removable connector elements each comprising a pin findin a fit in two registered transverse bores of adjacent blocks and presenting an eye upon each of its ends, said eyes being adapted to be placed within the respective longitudinal bores in a juxtaposed relation, and locking elements arranged to be inserted into said longitudinal bores and through the juxtaposed connector element eyes.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the connecting element material forming the eyes is flexible to permit each eye being bent slightly from the longitudinal axis of the respective connecting element so that the eyes may be placed in the aforesaid juxtaposed relation.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein each said locking element is arranged and adapted to engage the locking element of another block placed end-to-end with respect to the first block and by said engagement secure the related blocks against movement in a direction endwise of the locking element.

4. In a toy building block set a block rod unit comprising, a block traversed with a bore and having a counter-bore at an end of said bore, a rod for said block housed in said bore and having a head at one end housed in the counterbore, said head presenting a threaded bore, the other end of said rod being threaded and extending beyond the respective block face for threadably engaging the head of the rod of an identical block and rod unit placed in a juxtaposed relation with the first unit.

WILLIAM H. HOPPE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 956,632 Finch May 3, 1910 1,308,254 Otto July 1, 1919 1,530,611 Parker Mar. 24, 1925 2,132,647 Robins Oct. 11, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 317,781 France June 5, 1902 214,821 Great Britain May 1, 1924 

